$25K reward offered in assault of Lakewood rabbi

Authorities today offered a $25,000 reward in the case of an Orthodox rabbi beaten with a baseball bat in Lakewood last week.

The assault on Rabbi Mordechai Moskowitz as he walked to synagogue Oct. 9 sent the Hebrew teacher to the hospital and set the diverse Ocean County community on edge. He was severely injured but is expected to make a full recovery.

Police say his assailant - who wielded an aluminum bat in the attack and then fled - is African-American, but have not characterized the attack as a bias crime. They say they do not know the assailant's motive.

Today, the Anti-Defamation League joined law enforcement organizations and members of the Orthodox community in announcing a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.

Anyone with information on the assault is asked to contact the Lakewood Police Department at (732) 363-0200.